MINUTES OF MEETING

PORT OF THE ISLANDS

COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

 

            The regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the Port of the Islands Community Improvement District was held Thursday, June 21, 2001 at 4:00 P.M. at the Egret Room, 25000 Tamiami Trail, Naples, Florida.

 

            Present and constituting a quorum were:

 

            Bernard Wolsky                                         Vice Chairman

            Leonard Gross                                           Supervisor

            Ted Bissell                                                  Supervisor

 

            Also present were:

 

            Darrin Mossing                                           Severn Trent

            Dan Cox                                                    Young Van Assenderp

            Ron Benson                                                Hole Montes

            Tim Stephend                                             District Staff

            residents

 

 

FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS                         Roll Call

 

Mr. Wolsky called the meeting to order and stated that all Supervisors were present at roll call with the exception of Supervisors Gatti and Burgeson.

 

SECOND ORDER OF BUSINESS                    Approval of Minutes of the May 15, 2001 Meeting

 

ON MOTION by Mr. Bissell, seconded by Mr. Gross, with all in favor, the Board approved the minutes of the May 15, 2001 Minutes as presented.

 

THIRD ORDER OF BUSINESS                       Acceptance of Audit for Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2000

 

Mr. Mossing presented the audited financial statements for Fiscal Year ended September 30, 2000 to the Board.

The Board questioned the uncollectible revenues and bad debt in the amount of $96,864.

Mr. Mossing explained that the $96,864 is made up of four years of uncollected receivables from various properties. A reserve fund is being set up although the amount has been deemed uncollectible based upon the time that has elapsed since the billings occurred. Collection of the bad debt will be dealt with if and when the specific properties are developed.

The Board questioned Page 16 of the audited financials where it states “the District is obligated in some manner to assume payment of the related debt service in the event of default by the property owners.”

Mr. Cox stated that he would look further into the matter and give a full report at the next meeting.

The Board questioned the technical state of emergency status of the District.

Mr. Cox responded that the requirement of the statute has been satisfied and that the Governor and Legislature have been notified. He further stated that there were not sufficient funds to make the May 1, 2001 debt service payment and that the bondholder instructed the trustee to release all of the funds except for $100,000 which are to be used for the legal defense of the litigation that was recently entered against the District.

Mr. Mossing clarified that the net loss incurred by the Enterprise Fund is not related to the financial emergency of the bond issue. The net loss in the Enterprise Fund is related to the depreciation by the auditors of the plant and the bad debt of the receivables.

 

ON MOTION by Mr. Bissell, seconded by Mr. Gross, with all in favor, the Board accepted the Audit for Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2000.

 

FOURTH ORDER OF BUSINESS                    Discussion of Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2001/2002

 

Mr. Mossing stated that the proposed budget was distributed to the Board at the May 15, 2001 meeting and that the public hearing for the adoption of the 2002 budget is scheduled to be held on July 19, 2001. He then recommended that the $95,000 Renewal and Replacement line item in the Enterprise Fund be funded through standby fees.

The Board questioned the proposed increase in Engineering Fees.

Mr. Mossing responded that the number is based upon the historical activity of the engineer.

Mr. Benson stated that some of the expenditures for the current year were for irrigation and reclaimed water and were one-time expenditures.

 

FIFTH ORDER OF BUSINESS                         Discussion of 2000 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report

 

Mr. Mossing informed the Board that the 2000 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report is a required annual report. It is posted at various locations within the District.

 

SIXTH ORDER OF BUSINESS                        Discussion of the Stella Maris Stormwater Management System

 

Dr. Benson stated that the Stella Maris Homeowners Association is responsible for the maintenance and operation of their stormwater system and therefore is not a District issue.

 

SEVENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS                  Consideration of Proposals for the Painting of the Water Tanks

 

Dr. Benson stated that upon his recommendation Mr. Stephens met with three local painting companies and asked for proposals to paint the water tanks.

The proposals have been reviewed by Mr. Stephen and Dr. Benson and references have been checked. The proposals were for $9,356, 10,200 and $10,568.

Dr. Benson recommended that the District hire Four Seasons Painting to clean, repair and paint the water tanks based on their proposal.

 

ON MOTION by Mr. Bissell, seconded by Mr. Gross, with all in favor, the Board awarded the Painting of the Water Tanks to Four Seasons Painting.

 

EIGHTH ORDER OF BUSINESS                     Staff Reports

 

A.        Attorney

There not being any, the next item followed,

B.        Engineer

Dr. Benson stated that he had prepared a memorandum to the Board regarding a proposal to utilize the hotel as an adult living facility. Dr. Benson’s opinion was that the use of ERC’s would be comparable based on the fact that the hotel would serve the same amount of people. He then addressed the issue of excess chlorine in the District’s water and recommended that the District acquire either an automatic or manual device to flush the water lines.

Mr. Mossing suggested that the cost of the automatic device be placed on the budget for Fiscal Year 2002. The estimated price is $3,000.

Dr. Benson stated that he has been informed by Collier County that they have a surplus irrigation package pump system available for donation to the District.

C.        Manager

Mr. Mossing recommended that the District increase its rates in order to fund the Renewal and Replacement line item in the amount of $95,000 via the standby fees.

The Board asked whether the entire $95,000 would be funded with the standby fees.

Mr. Mossing responded that yes, it would be and went on to explain that the budget has been broken down between fixed costs and variable costs. The variable costs would be funded through the user charges on the utility bills and the fixed costs would be allocated to all of the property owners. He then requested authorization to advertise a public hearing to be held on August 16, 2001 to increase rates.

 

ON MOTION by Mr. Gross, seconded by Mr. Bissell, with all in favor, the Board authorized staff to advertise a public hearing to be held on August 16, 2001 at 4:00 p.m. for the purpose of increasing the District’s rates.

 

D.        Field Manager

There not being any, the next item followed,

 

NINTH ORDER OF BUSINESS                       Supervisor's Requests and Audience Comments

 

An audience member asked when repairs will be made to Newport Drive.

Mr. Gross responded that a contractor has been contacted.

An audience member asked whether after seven years the debt on the delinquent properties would be forgiven and whether the county would take over the property.

Mr. Cox responded that the debt would be forgiven and that the county would probably convey the land to the District since it is the municipality in which the land lies.

The Board asked what the possibilities were of having the bondholder foreclose on the delinquent property in order to avoid having the county convey the land to a third party.

Mr. Cox responded that the foreclosure would be initiated by the District and based on the current litigation it would be best not to discuss it.

 

TENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS                       Financial Statements and Approval of Check Registers

 

On MOTION by Mr. Bissell, seconded by Mr. Gross, with all in favor the General Fund Check Register in the amount of $17,931.14 and the Water & Sewer Fund Check Register in the amount of $22,303.77 were approved.

 

ELEVENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS               Adjournment

 

On MOTION by Mr. Gross, seconded by Mr. Bissell, with all in favor the June 21, 2001 meeting was adjourned.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                               

Darrin S. Mossing                                                   Richard Gatti

Assistant Secretary                                                 Chairman